SSCSSR(2010)2SDBiHMN3FINREP REPORT 2 nd ROUND OF CLOSED SPEAKING DAYS ON SOCIAL SECURITY CO-ORDINATION between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro 16 and 17 February 2010 Hotel Sarajevo, Sarajevo
In the framework of the IPA Social Security Coordination and Social Security Reforms (SSCSSR) Joint Programme between the Council of Europe and the European Commission, the second round of closed Speaking Days between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro was organised on 16-17 February 2010 in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina). The programme and the list of participants are presented in Annex I and Annex II respectively. The purpose of this second meeting between the two delegations was notably to discuss in details the current Bilateral Agreement on Social Security Coordination and analyse the ways of concluding a new agreement between the two Beneficiary Parties involved. The Delegations of both Beneficiary Parties were represented by experts and high level administrative officials from pensions and disabilities insurance area. During the 2 days meeting both delegations made a detailed analysis of the current Bilateral Agreement. In particular, they agreed upon the exchange of the following information which will be further on analysed: - the number of cases currently under calculation for executing pension rights of the claimants, - the number of completed cases where decisions have been already made, - the number of cases where decisions have been already made and the claim for reimbursement ( ostetni zahtev ) has been paid, - the number of beneficiaries whose cases have been finalised, payment of reimbursement claims ( ostetni zahtev ) is in process, but amounts paid are decreased by one third, - funds requested by two Beneficiary Parties from each other according to the current Bilateral Agreement based on the reimbursement claim ( ostetni zahtev ). Both delegations agreed upon the deadline for submitting the relevant information as by 20 March 2010. Following a very constructive debate with regard to the future cooperation between the two Beneficiary Parties, it was decided to highlight the following conclusions of the meeting: - Negotiations for the conclusion of the new Bilateral Agreement on Social Security Coordination should be initiated as soon as possible. - With regard to the implementation of the Article 16 of the current Bilateral Agreement, both delegations should propose possible solutions once the information exchange is over in April 2010. - The working period in a third state (provided that it is shorter then 12 months) will be covered by the Beneficiary Party of which the insured person concerned has a citizenship. In case double citizenship, the working period will be covered by the Beneficiary Party where the person concerned is currently residing.
- In case of death of the insured person, the obligation for payment of the survivors pension is on the Beneficiary Party who has first recognised the pension right of the person concerned. - According to the Article 43 of the current Bilateral Agreement, the insured person can only submit his request for the same type of social security right. - The final conclusion was to inform those public servants in both Beneficiary Parties who are involved in the implementation of the Bilateral Agreement about the decisions made and instruct them on the technical aspects of its implementation discussed. The meeting was conducted in a very constructive and positive atmosphere. Both delegations have expressed their gratitude to the SSCSSR Programme, for supporting their request in organising the two rounds of Speaking Days, which proved to be of high value for clarification of a number of problematic issues between the two Beneficiary Parties regarding the practical implementation of the Bilateral Agreement on Social Security Coordination.
ANNEX I PROGRAMME CLOSED SPEAKING DAYS ON SOCIAL SECURITY CO-ORDINATION between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro 16th and 17th February 2010 Hotel Sarajevo Dzemala Bijedića 169 A, 71000 Sarajevo Sarajevo-Novi Grad, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tuesday, 16 th February 2010 09:00 12:00 Speaking days morning session 12:00 13:00 Lunch at hotel Sarajevo 14:00 17:00 Speaking days afternoon session 20:00 22 :00 Dinner at Hotel Sarajevo Wednesday, 17 th February 2010 09:00 12:00 Speaking days morning session 12:00 13:00 Lunch at hotel Sarajevo 14:00 17:00 Speaking days afternoon session 20:00 22 :00 Dinner at Hotel Sarajevo
ANNEX II LIST OF PARTICIPANTS SPEAKING DAYS ON SOCIAL SECURITY CO-ORDINATION between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro 16 th and 17 th February 2010 Hotel Sarajevo Dzemala Bijedića 169 A, 71000 Sarajevo Sarajevo-Novi Grad, Bosnia and Herzegovina
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Ms Lidija MARKOTA Head of Division for Social Protection and Pensions Department of Labour, Employment, Social Protections and Pensions Ministry of Civil Affairs BiH Ms Lejla KASALO Division for Social Protection and Pensions Department of Labour, Employment, Social Protections and Pensions Ministry of Civil Affairs BiH Mr Rajko PLAVSIC Ministry of Labour and Protection of Veterans and Disabled Persons of Republika Srpska Ms Gordana VOJVODIC Adviser to the Director for Foreign Insurance Affairs Federal Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance Ms Hajra IBRANOVIC Adviser to the Director for Foreign Insurance Affairs Federal Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance Ms Milena CVORO Assistant Director East Sarajevo Office Pension and Disability Insurance Fund of Republika Srpska Ms Lejla BAKALBASIC Head of Unit for International Regulation of Social Insurance and Application of International Regulations Mr Ernis IMAMOVIC Expert Advisor for Implementation of Pension and Disability insurance Ministry of Labour and Social Policy F BiH MONTENEGRO Ms Mileva TODOROVIĆ Deputy Minister Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare Ms Darka DŽABASAN Independent Advisor II Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Department for appellate (secondary) administrative procedure
Ms Milanka MRDAK Deputy Director Ms Snežana LAZOVIĆ Head of the external insurance Ms Nada DRAŠKOVIĆ Head of Municipal Department of Nikšić Ms Marija TODOROVIĆ Senior Advisor Mr Darko SMOLOVIĆ Coordinator of the external insurance SECRETARIAT Council of Europe DG III Social Cohesion Ms Tanja KALOVSKA Programe Officer Social Security Coordination and Social Security Reforms Regional Programme Office Ms Jadranka BARIĆ SSCSSR Local Programme Officer for Bosnia and Herzegovina Council of Europe Office-Sarajevo